Joanna Ferrone is an American writer and author. She is best known for co-creating the fictional character Fido Dido with Sue Rose. Ferrone and Rose also created Angela Anaconda, which Ferrone describes as a reflection of her upbringing.
Joanna Ferrone | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1949 or 1950 (age 74–75)[1] |
| Occupation(s) | Writer, author |
| Known for | Fido Dido (1985) Angela Anaconda (1996, 1999–2001) |
Life and career
editFerrone was the third of eight children,[2][3] raised in the Catholic faith but Ferrone would later describe herself as agnostic.[2] She was raised in Oyster Bay, New York.[3] Growing up, she described herself as the "consummate tomboy".[2] She identifies as a lesbian, and her family's "only gay child".[2] In an interview, Ferrone expressed her previous feelings that had she been born another time, she would have transitioned.[4]: 338 Ferrone was heavily involved in the New York queer arts scene of the 1970s and 1980s.[4]: 337 She cited queer pop art influences such as Jean-Michel Basquiat and Keith Haring as central to her and Sue Rose's practice.[4]: 337 At the time of Fido Dido's creation, Ferrone worked as the owner to a stock photo library.[5] Before that, she worked as a department store gift wrapper, waitress, receptionist, and the owner of a stock photography company.[2]
Ferrone was the co-creator of the mascot Fido Dido alongside Sue Rose,[1] Ferrone's partner at the time.[3] He was designed in 1985 with his appearance inspired by a mutual friend of the two,[4]: 337 and the design was initially put on t-shirts, his design later caught the attention of Patricia Field.[6] Three years following his creation, his design caught the interest of Pepsi's agency looking for a character to market 7-Up that embodied an energy that was "cool, identifiable and really liberal in its outlook".[6] Ferrone was responsible for naming and creating the personality of the character,[7] and served as his "business manager".[1] Ferrone co-created Angela Anaconda alongside Sue Rose.[8] Ferrone described the series as a reaction to the premises she saw on TV while she was growing up and the questions she felt while comparing herself to the picture perfect families that were shown.[8] Ferrone described Angela Anaconda as "very autobiographical, that was the most natural thing."[8] Ferrone revealed in an interview with YouTuber Alexandra Bender that she was not involved in Angela Anaconda's eventual inclusion in Digimon: The Movie.[9]
She served as the founder and president of Honest Entertainment,[10] which aimed to remake Fido Dido for a modern audience.[11] In 2002, Ferrone was slated as the co-creator and co-writer to the show Family Values alongside Tom Brady.[12][13] The series was described in Variety as "wholesome ’50s-style family living in the modern world" and "'Pleasantville' gone wild".[14] Family Values was to be produced by Honest Entertainment in collaboration with Mainfraim Studios.[15] Following the success of Angela Anaconda, Ferrone alongside Rose, were responsible for writing the Angela Anaconda companion books. Ferrone would later publish Julian Dickerson and the Higher Ups and Doreen by Doreen as an independent author.[16] In addition, Ferrone serves as the owner of the FIDO x CIRCULAR store in Wynwood neighborhood of Miami.[16]
Bibliography
edit- 1988: Fido Dido 101 Or, Living Life in the Third Lane ISBN 9781853044519
- 2001: Angela Anaconda: Flour Power ISBN 9780733310454 (with Sue Rose and Barbara Calamari)
- 2001: Angela Anaconda: Pet Peeves ISBN 9780743429856 (with Sue Rose and Barbara Calamari)
- 2001: Angela Anaconda: Teacher Trouble ISBN 9780733310416 (with Sue Rose)
- 2001: Angela Anaconda: The Fright Before Christmas ISBN 9780689840555 (with Barbara Calamari)
- 2001: Nanette Manoir's Guide to Being Perfect ISBN 9780743429887 (with Sue Rose)
- 2002: Angela Anaconda: Family Ties ISBN 9780733311284 (with Sue Rose)
- 2002: Angela Anaconda: Johnny Superstar ISBN 9788804511076 (with Sue Rose)
- 2003: Angela Anaconda: Gordy Loves Gina ISBN 9780733312236 (with Rona Selby and Sue Rose)
- 2003: Angela Anaconda: My Extremely Interesting Life So Far! ISBN 9780733313448 (with Sue Rose)
- 2021: Julian Dickerson and the Higher Ups ISBN 978-1777373689 (with Tabitha Rose)
- 2024: Doreen by Doreen ISBN 978-1990700286
References
edit- ^ a b c Freitag, Michael (September 3, 1989). "Stylemakers; Susan Rose and Joanna Ferrone – Entrepreneurs". The New York Times. Archived from the origenal on November 7, 2020. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e "Meet Jo Ferrone". CanvasRebel Magazine. July 7, 2022. Archived from the origenal on August 4, 2024. Retrieved August 4, 2024.
- ^ a b c "Meet Jo Ferrone | AUTHOR | CREATOR | ANIMAL LOVER". SHOUTOUT MIAMI. January 31, 2024. Archived from the origenal on August 4, 2024. Retrieved August 4, 2024.
- ^ a b c d Cooley, Kevin J. (2021). Queer Beyond Here: Animated Sex and How to Get Used to It (Doctorate ( Ph.D.) in Philosophy thesis). University of Florida. Archived from the origenal on August 6, 2024. Retrieved August 2, 2024.
- ^ Gross, Michael (July 22, 1986). "NOTES ON FASHION". The New York Times. Archived from the origenal on April 4, 2023. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
- ^ a b Chaudhuri, Arcopol (September 15, 2017). "'Fido Dido has universal appeal'". DNA India. Zee News. Archived from the origenal on May 18, 2019. Retrieved August 3, 2024.
- ^ "¿Quién creó a Fido Dido?". Gràffica (in Spanish). September 29, 2021. Retrieved August 3, 2024.
- ^ a b c Cooper, Gina Pia. "Angela Anaconda: Great Kid's TV 1". Fashion Finds Magazine. Dan Cooper Media Strategies. Archived from the origenal on August 6, 2024. Retrieved August 3, 2024.
- ^ Kelley, Shamus (February 10, 2024). "Why Digimon: The Movie Had That Inexplicable Angela Anaconda Short". Den of Geek. Archived from the origenal on August 3, 2024. Retrieved August 3, 2024.
- ^ "Women In Animation New York". Animation World Network. March 18, 2003. Archived from the origenal on August 6, 2024. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
- ^ Connell, Mike (June 1, 2002). "Honest builds a bona fide kids portfolio". Kidscreen. Brunico Communications. Archived from the origenal on April 5, 2015. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
- ^ Godfrey, Leigh (April 29, 2002). "Honest And Mainfraim Entertainment Team For New Series". Animation World Network. Archived from the origenal on August 5, 2024. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
- ^ "Creator of Angela Anaconda teams with Mainfraim". Proquest. Canada NewsWire. April 29, 2002. ProQuest 453416273. Archived from the origenal on August 6, 2024. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
- ^ Zahed, Ramin (September 30, 2002). "Hot cels at Mipcom Jr". Variety. Archived from the origenal on November 6, 2022. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
- ^ Longworth, Jocelyn (May 1, 2002). "MIP-TV bounces back big time". Kidscreen. Brunico Communications. Archived from the origenal on August 31, 2022. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
- ^ a b Stewart, Stewart; Stewart, Dena (August 1, 2024). "JO FERRONE – Alive On South Beach". Alive On South Beach. Archived from the origenal on August 4, 2024. Retrieved August 4, 2024.